________________
Legendary Personality c rya Hast Mala J
A great Indian thinker of the era, r Hast Mala J Mah r ja has remained as a bright star in the family of Nirgrantha (passionless) Mok a. He was born in the city of Pipad, in Jodhpur district in Rajasthan on 13h January 1911, i.e., Vikram 1967 Pau a ukl Caturda. Two months before his birth, his father r Kevala Candaj of Osaw la lineage, died due to plague. This was a big jolt like a thunderbolt in a cloudless sky to his virtuous mother R p kamvara (Rp Dev ). Due to this incident, she got aversion towards the world. She brought up her son with a feeling of detachment and taught him the values of righteousness. Within a few years, Hast 's paternal grandparents also passed away.
The aforesaid incidents strengthened the feelings of aversion in Hast , who was already a born ascetic.
At a tender age of 10 years and 18 days, ascetic Hast Mala accepted monastic life from c rya r obh candraj on M gha ukl Dvit y Vikram 1977 (10th February 1921). Along with him, his mother Rp Dev , and two more people who were aspirants of liberation, took refuge in Jainism. Immediately after joining the Order, Hast Mala started studying the Jain scriptures, oriental languages, philosophy and literature. At the tender age of 15 1/2 years, the child-monk Hast Mala, who was bestowed with distinct abilities and talent was chosen as the leader of the Jain Order.
In a short span of time, he acquired unparalleled knowledge, coupled with meditation. In Vikram 1987 Vai kha ukl (Ak aya T it y ) at a mere age of 19 years, he was appointed as the seventh Head of Sthanaky s tradition of Ratna Congregation in Jodhpur. He was the only person in Jain history who was made c rya at an age of less than 20 years, probably after the omniscient c rya Hemacandra of Kaliyuga.
c rya Hast Mala was a persona full of spiritual energy and a multifaceted genius. With the regular practice of self-contemplation (S m yika), he spread the message of equanimity. He also inspired lakhs of people for the study of the scriptures and spread a new enlightenment of amity and knowledge in the society. With indefatigable zeal, he strived hard to eliminate profligacy and to root out the evil deeds among
240
